Archive for March, 2010

Don’t miss tonight’s Arizona Interactive Marketing Association event at Tempe Mission Palms featuring Bill Leake, the CEO and co-founder of Apogee Search.In an attempt to get to know Bill a little better prior to his presentation, we asked him some questions that we thought we’d share with you.

Elise Redlin-Cook: Bill, if you were stranded on a desert island and can only access three websites…which would you choose … and of course, why?

Bill Leake: Facebook. With Facebook, we don’t really need email, we can keep in touch with most people we care about, and with messaging/chat, have multiple form factors. Second, Wikipedia which will help me MacGyver anything I might need. And last, but not least, YouTube: Moving pictures are worth 10’s of thousands of words.

Elise: Great picks! What marketing trend do you consider as the next “big thing” that will change the way companies interact with their audiences/customers?

Bill: I’d say the next “big thing” is Internet Video blending into IP/TV

Elise: Quality content vs. the right content vehicle…which is more important?

Bill: The vehicle.  You can have a great horse buggy, or a phenomenal choo choo, but if everyone is doing the automobile thing, it doesn’t help for jack!

Elise: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? And, what’s the best advice you’ve given someone else?

Bill: With regards to work, I was once told ”You need to leave this job, you’re starting to rot!” And the best advice I’ve given someone, also work-related, “You spend so much of your lifetime at work, if you’re not happy there, fix it or leave.”

Elise: Both excellent pieces advice.Now, probably a question on a lot of minds, is there such a thing as a “social media expert/guru”?

Bill: Nope. Well, there are plenty of self-described and self appointed ones.

Elise: Haha. I think many of us can agree with that. What was the last book you read or are currently reading?

Bill: I’m currently rereading Friedrich Hayek, “The Road to Serfdom”

Elise: Who are the three people (or companies, organizations, etc.) that everyone should be following on Twitter?

Bill: Me, @marketing_bill – I won’t tweet at you, Guy Kawasaki, @GuyKawasaki, See how the master of faux authenticity and automated systems does it. And of course something you actually are passionate about (there’s more to life than social media, but social media can help enhance the rest of your life).

Elise: How has social media helped/hindered your ability to create your own personal brand?

Bill: It has hindered me by creating a whole new set of time requirements and platforms to follow and has also made it harder to control the perceptions. But, it has helped me by, like a small town, forcing a bit more authenticity and through force multiplier potential.

Elise: What new skill set will be required of the next generation of marketers?

Bill: A combination of math and psychology

Elise: When you think of a company that is doing “it” right (“it” can be whatever you want “it” to be)…which one comes to mind?

Bill: Both Apple and Google, in their respective (but increasingly overlapping) spheres

If you’re interested in finding out more about Bill, and the answer to “Is Social Media a Waste of Money?” then you won’t have to wait long. Attend the AZIMA event tonight!

We are no longer selling presale tickets online, but you can still register at the door, which opens at 6:00PM. We will be serving a light dinner, and two drinks are included with the purchase of your ticket.

Tempe Mission Palms

60 East Fifth Street

Tempe, AZ. 85281

www.missionpalms.com

Complimentary Valet Parking for this event!

Price: At the door $55

We hope to see you there!